Plans for a walk-in police shop in Rustington have been blocked by Sussex Police.

Parish councillors had found an empty shop in the village for residents to drop in, exchange crime prevention tips and talk about their fear of crime.

The shop would not have been permanently manned by police officers but could have been a safe haven for local bobbies and traffic officers to write up their reports.

Members of the WRVS and the parish council would also have based themselves at the premises.

But after talks with Sussex Police, parish councillors were told the plans have collapsed due to lack of resources.

Parish clerk Don Rogers said: "We felt it was a good idea to have a presence of police officers in the village. We were very disappointed with the decision."

However, a new crime prevention bus will be parked in the service road outside Woolworths on the second Thursday of every month from 10am to 3pm.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "At the moment we are concentrating on a move to Century House in Durrington which will centralise police in the area.

"After the move, we will look again at smaller projects and will keep in contact with the council."